I had a 78' 1/2 ton stepside back in the 80's when the pro street look was in. We just removed middle springs and ran the top on the shackles and small bottom overload. We did not haul anything but a Igloo cooler of beer and road real nice. I put traction bars on it so I would not twist the rear out when I stomped on it, but it had 24" wide Hoosiers on it. If I remember right, I put the rear on top of the 2 springs and that was enough to get it down. This mod required the frame mods you talk about as well.
Cavebull
